Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted a multimillion-dollar drug shipment concealed within a commercial tractor-trailer hauling cabbage at the Pharr Port of Entry in Texas, the agency announced. The bust, which occurred Monday, resulted in the seizure of 477 packages containing 1,173 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $10,787,500.
Officers initially flagged the truck for inspection during routine operations at the bridge connecting the southernmost part of Texas to Mexico. A canine team and a nonintrusive imaging scan detected anomalies inside the trailer, prompting a physical search that uncovered the hidden narcotics. The driver and the vehicle were taken into custody, and the drugs were confiscated.
«This interception is a powerful reminder that our CBP officers are on duty 24/7, employing every resource to detect and deter those who attempt to exploit our borders,» said Carlos Rodriguez, port director for the Hidalgo Port of Entry, in a statement. Rodriguez emphasized that the threat of illicit narcotics remains constant but noted that vigilance among officers continues to yield results.
The seizure comes amid significant investments in border security and record staffing levels at CBP. Republicans in Congress have allocated substantial funding to the agency through recent legislation, including $64 billion and $26 billion for CBP as part of broader Department of Homeland Security funding packages. A large portion of the second bill is designated for agency manpower.
Earlier this year, CBP announced it had reached a historic staffing milestone, with 21,471 officers on duty — the highest number in the agency’s 102-year history. At the same time, border crossings have plummeted since the end of 2024, dropping from over 144,000 encounters in December to just 13,500 in May, a 90 percent reduction. Despite these gains, CBP and other federal agencies continue to face organized smuggling operations that attempt to bring drugs, weapons, and people illegally into the country.
The cabbage shipment bust is the latest in a series of notable drug interceptions at the Texas border. In April, CBP officers prevented a car carrying a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, 16 AK rifles, 24 rifle magazines, 16 rifle stocks, 20 pistol grips, and other weapon parts from crossing the border. Earlier this year, agents also uncovered $3.7 million worth of cocaine disguised as a cucumber delivery.
«The threat of illicit narcotics is constant, but so is our vigilance,» Rodriguez said, underscoring the ongoing challenge of securing the border against sophisticated smuggling tactics. The Pharr Port of Entry, located in the Rio Grande Valley, has been a frequent target for drug traffickers due to its proximity to major Mexican smuggling routes.
CBP officials said the investigation into the cabbage shipment is ongoing, and no further details about the driver or the intended destination of the drugs have been released. The agency continues to work with federal partners to disrupt drug trafficking networks operating along the southern border.